Consumer Critique: What to Expect When You're Adopting

Disclosure: I received complimentary products to facilitate this post. All opinions are my own.

There are tons of parenting books out there, but few that really speak to the unique situation of adopting. While every family's adoption story is different, there are some common threads between them all - and traits that sometimes make traditional parenting books less suitable, particularly in the adoption of older children.

Forever Mom: What to Expect When You're Adopting is a great book for moms - and dads - who are adding a new child to their family in a nontraditional way. The chapters touch on nearly every aspect of adoption, from preparing children already in the family to behavior issues, from building and maintaining relationships with the children to strengthening and protecting marriage.

I have never adopted, but I have several close friends who have. I can't rate this book from the point of view of an expert who actually experienced it, but after hearing the stories, they seem to mesh with many of the situations illustrated in the book. It won't cover every eventuality, but it is a good starting point for those in the adoption process.